Wrench.



PATENTED JUNE 9; 1903.

I No. 730,269.

, UNITED STATES Patented'J'une 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 730,269, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed March 28, 1903. Serial No. 150,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs L. KENNEDYJ. citizen of the United States, residing at N ewton, in thecounty of'Newton and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved structure of wrench embodying the slidable-jaw type,the slidable jaw being .provided with a toothed stem, and a pivoted latch-piece is secured to the body of the wrench for cooperation with the toothed stem of the jaw to fix same ata desired adjustment. The latch-piece permits movementof the slidable jaw in one direction, but looks the jaw from opposite movement when the wrench has been applied to an object.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrench. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the wrench. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the exact form of the pivoted latchpiece. v

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The wrench comprises the handle 1, the fixed jaw 2, and shank 3, rigidly connecting the handle 1 with the jaw 2, being secured to the handle by suitable means customarily used. The movable jaw t is slidable upon the shank 3 and is provided with an integral stem 5, which moves in and out of the handle 1, an innerslotfi being provided within said handle and upon the shank 3 to receive the said'stem. The stem 5 is toothed, as

shown at 7, and a latch-piece 8, pivoted to a bracket 9, projected from the inner portion of the handle, cooperates with the teeth 7 of the stem 5 to prevent opening of the jaw after object.

the Wrench has been applied to the attaching The latch-piece 8 is of peculiar form, having one end extended beyond the bracket 9 and upturned to form a thumb-piece 10, by which the latch-piece is permitted to lie in engagement with the toothed stem'of the jaw 4 or thrown out of engagement when it is desired to open the jaw. A spring 11 normally holds the latch-piece in engagement with the teeth 7, bearing against the thumb-piece 10.

In order that all the strain be not exerted upon the pivotal connection 12 of the latchpiece 8, a log 13 is formed upon the innerside of the said latch-piece adjacent the point of pivotal connection, and this lug 13 is adapted to move withina recess 14 uponthe bracket 9. The recess 14 is undercut, so that the lug will get a firm bearing against the'side of the bracket and substantially relieve the pivotal connection 12 of the major portion of the strain. When the latch-piece is out of engagement with the teeth 7, the lug 13 of course moves away from theside'of the bracket in a manner which will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings and shown by the dotted lines, which indicate the position of the latch-piece when in the position latter described. The spring 11 may be secured to the bracket 9 by suitable means, such as the fastening 15.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is'- 1. In a'wrench, and in combination, fixed and movable jaws, a toothed stem extended from the'movable jaw,- a latch-piece pivoted to the body of'the wrench and adapted 'to cooperate with the stem to fix the position of the movable jaw, spring meansfor normally 2 holding the latch-piece in engagement with the toothed stem, and bracing means disposed adjacent the point of pivotal connection of the latch-piece with the body of the wrench for cooperation with the latter to re- 5 lieve the pivotal connection of the strain, substantially as described.

2. In a wrench,'and in. combination, with fixed and movable jaws, a shank,a toothed stem extended from the movable jaw, a bracket projected from the shank, a latchpiece pivoted to the said bracket and cooperating with the toothed stem aforesaid, and an integral extension projected from the said latch-piece adjacent the point of pivotal connection with the bracket and adapted to cooperate with the latter to relieve the pivotal connection of strain, substantially as described.

In a wrench, and in combination, with fixed and movable jaws, a shank, a handle disposed upon the shank, a toothed stem extended from the movable jaw and adapted to slide into and out of the handle, a bracket projected from the handle and provided with an inwardly-extending recess, and a latchpiece pivoted thereto, said latch-piece having one end adapted for engagement with the toothed portion of the stem aforesaid and havingitsopposite end extended to form a thumb- THOMAS L. KENNEDY. [L. s.]

\Vitnesses:

C. A. BOLTON, W. O. PERRY. 

